King Tides Illustrate Vulnerability of California Shoreline
Amateur photography event to document potential impacts of sea level rise
Media Contact: Sara Aminzadeh (415-794-8422)
California Coastkeeper Alliance
02/08/2011
(San Francisco, CA) Next week, some of the year’s highest tides will lash California’s coastal and bay shorelines, providing a glimpse of what the state can expect as sea levels rise in the coming years.
Environmental groups and government agencies throughout California are working with volunteers to document this winter’s highest tides, known as “King Tides.” The initiative will help communities and policymakers visualize projected flooding, and inspire them to take action to protect homes, harbors, shoreline treatment plants, and other key infrastructure, as well as beaches, wetlands, and public access to the coast. Organizers expect King Tides from February 16-18th, with particularly high swells on February 17 from 7:30-9 a.m.
“Sea level rise poses a tangible threat to California’s economy, environment, and people,” says Sara Aminzadeh, Programs Manager for California Coastkeeper Alliance. “These ‘King Tides’ remind us how many homes, businesses, and public services are located dangerously close to the shoreline, underscoring the need for immediate action to protect places we care about. One long-term solution is to restore and protect wetlands, which function as natural sponges and provide a buffer against rising sea levels and increased storm activity.”
A 2009 Pacific Institute sea level rise report forecasts more than one foot of sea level rise by 2050 and four to five feet by 2100 along the California coast. To help document the potential impacts of rising sea levels, groups are calling on citizens to submit photos taken in areas already known to flood, and areas where high water levels can be gauged against sea walls, jetties, bridge supports or dikes. These photos will help to identify and catalog coastal areas vulnerable to tidal inundation, and to promote awareness of the potential impacts of sea level rise.
Find more information about King Tides Initiatives in the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington, and Oregon at http://www.sfbaynerr.org/ctp/KingTides/. Images from January’s Bay Area King Tides are available at http://www.flickr.com/groups/bayareakingtides.
Citizens are encouraged to get out their cameras and capture images, especially on February 17 from 7:30–9 a.m., when the highest tides are anticipated. View NOAA’s tide predictions for various locations at www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/tides11/tab2wc1a.html#130. Participants can submit photos to californiakingtides@gmail.com with contact information, photo location, orientation, date, and time of day.
Contact your local Waterkeeper organization to schedule interviews, boat trips, and shoreline tours:
• San Diego Coastkeeper: Jamie Ortiz (858-337-7466, jamie@sdcoastkeeper.org)
• Orange County Coastkeeper: Garry Brown or Ray Hiemstra (714-850-1965, garry@coastkeeper.org)
• Santa Monica Baykeeper (Los Angeles Area): Liz Crosson (310-305-9645 x100, liz@smbaykeeper.org)
• Santa Barbara Channelkeeper: Michael Sheehy (805-637-8730, michael@sbck.org)
• San Francisco Baykeeper: Deb Self (510-882-1882, deb@baykeeper.org)
• Humboldt Baykeeper: Pete Nichols (707-845-0832, pete@humboldtbaykeeper.org)
Using law, policy and science, the California Coastkeeper Alliance supports and enhances the work of California’s 12 Waterkeeper organizations and works to ensure that Californians enjoy clean water and a healthy coast. www.cacoastkeeper.org. ###
